More clashes in southern Philippines' Zamboanga city

A stand-off between Philippine troops and Muslim rebels has continued for a second day, with reports of civilians being used as "human shields".

At least four people were killed in Monday's violence in Zamboanga city in Mindanao, in the south of the country.

Clashes began when a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) moved into the city early on Monday.

Gunshots were heard in Zamboanga early on Tuesday, reports said, and residents had fled areas hit by fighting.

All classes have been suspended and flights to and from Zamboanga have been cancelled, the city government said.

Additional troops have also arrived in Zamboanga to support the hundreds already deployed in the unrest.

Peace talks

The MNLF members arrived by boat in the city early on Monday and had wanted to raise their flag above Zamboanga's city hall, military officials said.

Hundreds of troops have been deployed to Zamboanga city, as clashes between rebels and government soldiers enter their second day.
Six people have been killed, and 24 wounded in the violence, authorities say.
The rebels are reportedly holding dozens of local residents, but it is not clear how many.
More than 1,000 residents have evacuated their homes to flee the conflict, reports say.

Nur Misuari founded the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in 1971, with the goal of fighting the Philippine state for an independent Islamic nation. The MNLF then signed a peace agreement with the government in 1996.

However, Nur Misuari has complained that his faction has been marginalised in a peace agreement currently being negotiated between the government and another insurgent group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Last month, he declared an independent Muslim state in the southern Philippines.

It appears that what happened is not hostage-taking but more of them being turned into human shieldMar Roxas, Interior Secretary

Nur Misuari has not commented on the violence. Journalists and government negotiators say they have been unable to reach him.

What MNLF forces hope to achieve in Zamboanga is not clear, reports the BBC's South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head. The government says it is prepared to negotiate, and a likely outcome is that they are allowed to go out of the city, provided they leave the residents of the areas they are holding unharmed.

Nur Misuari's forces used Zamboanga residents as human shields before, in 2001, to secure safe passage after a failed uprising.